Adventurer, ecologist, and activist, David de Rothschild is the latest celebrity to appear in a series of videos plugging Prince Charles’ Rainforests Project and encouraging people to become involved. “We’re getting to a period where there’s no turning back,” he says,” and the most important thing is our ability to live on this planet.” Check out the video below.

In other news, the Plastiki Expedition has received a slick new website that let’s you take a peek at how everything will work on the vessel. Conceived by de Rothschild a few years ago, the Plastiki is a 60-foot catamaran made from reclaimed plastic bottles. According to the site, the goal of the expedition is to “not only continue encouraging the world to focus on reducing, reusing and recycling more of its natural resources but ultimately to think smart by re-thinking waste as a resource.” The voyage is expected to kick off sometime later this year. Visit the website here – -and if you can swing it, hit the high-res version.

In celebration of its third season premiering April 21st — featuring several new original series — the Sundance Channel has given THE GREEN a new, expanded web presence.

The slick design now features plenty of video — including some previews of shows like David de Rothschild’s ECO TRIP and Simran Sethi’s THE GOOD FIGHT. As an early bonus, Isabella Rosellini’s GREEN PORNO series now available on demand for free on the site. We especially enjoyed her latest “Why Vagina?”.

Of course, there are a few things THE GREEN has yet to reveal — such as Josh Dorfman’s new series THE LAZY ENVIRONMENTALIST. We imagine it’s because the visual effects budget — coupled with Dorfman’s unresonable demand for pure 02 at all times — has simply gotten out of control. That being said, we can’t wait to see what he has in store for us.

Check out THE GREEN by jumping here.

We’ve been writing about David de Rothschild’s Plastiki concept for some time now — so it’s exciting to see that the expedition is finally almost ready to launch. Some new pictures have been revealed of the eco-boat — with a hull filled entirely with 12,000 to 16,000 2-liter soda bottles. According to Gizmodo, each bottle with be pressurized using dry ice powder that will sublimate into carbon dioxide gas.

If the weather cooperates, the Plastiki will embark on an 11,000-mile journey starting this April from San Francisco to Sydney. The organizers are stating that it will be broken down and recycled at the end — but if the trip should prove successful, we’re thinking that this boat will be on display for quite some time. Here are a few other cool details from the site:

The cabin shell is our primary source for collecting rainwater, which will be filtered and stored. Solar photovoltaic panels are arrayed on the shell roof. Other energy exhibits, such as wind, water, bicycle and possibly wave power are being situated on the deck along with a modern-day ‘canoe garden’ that echoes the on-board gardens of ancient Polynesian mariners who brought staple plants and animals on voyages to ensure their sustainability.

Now, 11,000 miles is no easy task for any boat — especially one so untested on the open seas for a long period of time. It should be interesting to see how the Plastiki endures the journey. We wish de Rothschild and his crew the best of luck. (Check out one of the hulls below filled with bottles!)

National Geographic Adventure has a good chat with David De Rothschild on his upcoming “Plasticki” expedition. The 30-year-old adventurer is planning on sailing across the Pacific in a rudderless boat made of plastic bottlesto highlight the possibilities of recycling our trash — and what happens when we don’t. During his trip, he will navigate through a man-made disaster called the Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch, a floating landfill located between California and Hawaii that’s twice the size of Texas. [Read more...]

Director, playwright and actor Tyler Perry has donated enough food to feed 1,000 families for two weeks in Atlanta, where he is currently living. The 39-year-old, who was once homeless, says that he needed to do something to help. “I’ve been out on the street, I know what it’s about,” said Perry, “I couldn’t imagine doing that with children looking at me for food.” [Read more...]

The premise, as we yammered about back in April, is quite similar to David De Rothchild’s new show for Sundance’s THE GREEN. Basically, Nye will point out the “stuff” in our lives and take us on a journey as each item’s life cycle is investigated and uncovered. Along the way, he will also illustrate how simple and easy changes can reduce the environmental cost of things we love.

Take a look at Rothschild’s show — and you’ve got the exact same concept. Problem is, competing with Bill Nye for production value is like putting Michael Phelps up against a dolphin. Sure, it’ll be entertaining, but the dolphin is going to kick some serious ass. Plus, it can do aerial flips. Can Michael Phelps do aerial flips?

For the first episode, Nye will take us into the bathroom. Here’s a bit from the release,

“Some of the stuff that happens there may be unmentionable, but it all has an environmental impact – an impact we can reduce in painless ways that could make a big difference. Nye tackles everything from toothpaste (does it endanger orangutans in Borneo?), to cosmetics (how many pounds of chemicals does your skin absorb over a lifetime of using cosmetics?), to toilets (what kinds of “super bugs” are growing in our municipal water systems due to flushing old prescription drugs down the toilet?) Can Nye save the planet from the peril of sludge?”

If anyone can save us from destruction, it’s Bill Nye. Grab your favorite bow tie and get ready to geek out this September on Planet Green!

Our favorite eco-playboy/adventurer is going to be receiving a bit more exposure with the announcement of his own green series, courtesy of The Sundance Channel’s THE GREEN.

Titled Eco-Trip: The Real Cost of Living, the show will trace the origins and environmental impact of common everyday products such as a cotton t-shirt or a gold ring. The eight-part series will feature David De Rothschild as the host explaining the creation of these items – as well as educating viewers on the decisions they can make to live a greener lifestyle.

Back in February, David teamed up with Nickelodeon UK to help present a multi-media project called Nicks Big Thing — which illustrated small things kids can do to make a big difference. He’s also written several eco-books for kids and provides educational materials on his green site, Adventure Ecology. Most recently, his Global Warming Survival Guide accompanied the Live Earth celebration back in July ‘07.

In March of 2009, De Rothschild will cross the Pacific from San Francisco to Sydney in a boat built from plastic bottles and recycled materials called “The Plastiki”.

Look for Eco-Trip to premiere sometime in 2009.

“NBC’s Peacock Productions is working with David on a series pilot looking at the environmental impact of a range of consumer products on day to day life. A date for the series, being shown on the Sundance Channel, has yet to be announced. Sharon Scott, the senior VP of Peacock Productions said: ‘David is a fresh voice championing the environmental issues of our day. His passion for the environment and endless sense of adventure make him an ideal messenger for our informative and entertaining programming geared towards a younger audience.’

David is also teaming up with Nickelodeon UK to help present a multi-media project called Nicks Big Thing, which is a week of environmental programming on the net screening from Monday February 25th to Friday 29th. Programmes illustrate small things that can make a big difference. For example, young people are challenged to look at their daily lives to find evidence of global warming. They then have to consider what can be done about it, before presenting their findings to Hilary Benn, secretary of state for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.”

Rothschild is definitely on to something by engaging children in the environmental movement. He’s written several eco-books for kids and provides educational materials on his green site, Adventure Ecology. As part of that organization, this summer he’ll also set off across the Pacific Ocean in a boat made from waste water bottles highlighting the impact of such consumer dependencies. No doubt, we’ll see this adventure highlighted on one of the two new cool shows above. We’ll keep you posted as more details flow in…